Method and means for connecting a flexible body wall to a bellows head



Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIICEQI.

LEO J. GRUBMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A SSIGNOR TO VOICES, INCORPORATED, OI NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION v01: DELAWARE.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING A FLEXIBLE BODY WALL TO A BELLOWS HEAD.

Application filed February This invention relates to an improved method and means for connecting a flexible body wall to a bellows head.

My present improvements have more particular relation to that type of bellows which has come into very general use in recent years in connection with sound producing devices for dolls and other toys and wherein the bellows is usually of cylindrical form and has a flexible body wall suitably fixed at one of its ends and connected at its other end to a movable air expelling head. Heretofore the end of the flexible bellowswall has been connected to the movable head either by the use of a suitable adhesive orby means of a clamping ring whereby the end of the tubular wall is held in connection with the head by a frictional clamping pressure. Such connecting or attaching means has not, however, been found entirely satisfactory in practical use, first because of the liability of air leakage, which is particularly true when an adhesive connection is employed, secondly, because of the difliculty of assembling, and thirdly, in the case of the frictional clamping ring because of the added expense of roduction involved in the use of such additional part for effecting the connection.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide a simple and easily and quickly operable method and a very effective means for securely and permanently fixing the end edge of the tubular bellows wall in connection with the bellows head whereby the possible escape of air under pressure from the interior of the bellows chamberwill be absolutely precluded and whereby the end edge of the flexible wall becomes inseparably united with/the bellows head. Thus, notwithstanding the most severe strains upon the flexible wall incident to the operation of the device there will be no sepa ration of the end edge of said flexible wall from the bellows head. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide the bellows head which is formed of a suitable malleable metal with a flange against which the end edge of the flexible wall is positioned. This flange is then subjected to pressure by means ofa suitable tool whereby the flange is compressed upon and against the edge of said flexible wall so that the latter is immovably clamped and held be- 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,102.

tween said compressed flange and the body portion of the bellows head.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved method and means for connecting the flexible wall to the bellows head as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying" drawing and subse quently incorporated in the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawing in which I have illustrated several different forms'of the bellows'head which may beemployed in carrying out my present improvements, v

- Figure .1 is a'vertical sectional view showing the bellows head positioned within one end of the tubular flexible wall prior to the die pressing operation; a p 1 Figure 2' is a similar view showing'the condition of the parts after the completion of the die pressing operation whereby the flexible wall becomes permanently attached or secured to the bellows head;

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views similar to Figures 1 and 2 illustrating a slightly different form of the bellows head; and

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary views corresponding to Figures 3 and 4 respectively, illustrating still another modification. 7

In the drawing for purposes of illustration, I have showna cylindrical bellows head 5 which is provided witha central axially extending: sleeve 6 extending from the face of said head. The wall of this sleeveis adapted to coact with a sound emission member (not shown). However, it will be understood that the manner of controlling the emission of sound in the operation of the device in. which the bellows may be incorporated, constitutes noessential part of the present invention, and the bellows head 5 may be of various other constructions than that illustratedin the drawing, For the purpose of this explanation,

it will suffice to state that regardlessof face. The head 5, I prefer to cast or form from lead, or other suitable malleable metal alloy or composition material.

The body wall 8 of the bellows is composed of a suitable flexible semi-elastic material which is capable of withstanding very severe tensile strains -without tearing or rupture. One end of this flexible tubular J bellows wall 8 is suitably fixed to one end of a 19 a casing or shell within which the bellows and other operating "parts of the device are enclosed, but since this attaching means is of no importance in so far as the present disclosure is concerned, it is not herein described or 'illustratedwThe tubular flexible wall 8 at itsother end is normally of "somewhat less diameter than the diameter -of the bellows head 5. In assembling the parts, the flexible tubular wall 8 is drawn over the bellows head until said head is po- 1 sitioned in one endof the tubular body wall, whereby said'flexible wall is laterally distended orexpanded so that the annular end portion of said wall has a very tight hug ging frictional fit upon the peripheral face of the bellows head, the end edge'portion of said flexible wallextending inwardly over one side of said head and against the outer side of the flange assh'own at 9.

After the bellows head has been thus p0- sitioned in one end of the tubular wall 8, saidhead' is arranged upon an anvil 10having the centering pin or post 11 to extend loosely through the central opening or sleeve 6' of the head. die member 12 is now forced downwardly under pressure upon the bellows head, saidmember being provided in its bottom face with an annular channel or. groove 13. The flange? first engages with the inner side of the wall of this groove and as the downward pressure of the die 12 continues, the said flange is then turned outwardly and over the end edge portion 9 of the tubular bellows wall '8. In this outwardbending or turning of the annular flange ffi the metal thereof is also subjected to a compressing action by theldie12 and the extreme edge. portion of the flexible bellows wall is turned'over upon itself between this compressed flange and thejmar'ginal body portion of the head 5. "From reference to Figure 2 it will therefore be seen thatthev end edge portion of the flexible bellows wall is practically incorporated orcombined with the structure of the head 5, thus'p-recluding all possibility of separation of the parts and also effectually preventing the leakage of air from the bellows chamber between said flexible wall and the bellows head, 'In sounding devices of the'type wherein the bellows head moves by gravity to effect the expulsion of air from v the bellows chamber and its re-inflation, the pull or; strain upon theatta'ched end of the flexible body wall of the bellows is very seand the flange loosened or displaced so that the flexible bellows wall may become detached from the movable head or loosened to such an extent that there will be a considerable leakage of air from the bellows chamber. Not only is my present method and means for securing the flexible wall in connection with a movable bellows head more effective and reli able but it is likewise obvious that since I entirely dispense with the use ofan additional or separate part such as the frictional clamping ring, I am enabled to appreciably decrease the cost ofproduction.

While I prefer to securethe flexible bellows wall to the head 'by'means ofa flange 7 such as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, it is evident that there are various alternatives for this bendable or compressible securing flange on the bellows-head which might be employed. Thus in Figure 3 of the drawing, I show the bellows head 5 provided with the outer marginal annular flange 14 and with'a second inner annular These flanges are spaced apart to. provide the annular groove 15. After the tubular bellows wall has been drawn over wall, thereby completely closing the roove 15 and permanently confining the end'edge of the flexible wall between the flange 7 In Figure 5 of the drawing I have shown another form of the bellows head, in which case, said head is provided 1n one slde thereof and adjacent its periphery with an annular channel or groove 15, thus forming the marginal circumferential flange 14 V thereon. The tubular bellows wall 8 is turned over this flange 14: against the inner face thereof as in Figure 3 of the drawing. Byjmeans of a suitably formed die, pressure is now applied in an inward directionagainst the outer side of the flange 1e and upon the flexible bellows wall engaged thereover.

Thus, as seen in Fig. 6 of the drawing, "this flange is forced inwardly so that the end ed'ge'of the bellows wall will be permanently clamped and held between the inner'face of said flange and the inner side wall of the groove 15 which is opposed thereto. Either of these alternative methods will produce a satisfactory connection which may be very quickly made at small expenseof time and labor and for obvious reasons is preferable to the use of a separateclamping or attaching element.

7 From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, my improved method and the several mechanical means whereby the same may be satisfactorily practiced will be clearly and fully understood. By means of my present improvements, in the manufacture of sounding devices which have become known in the art as voices for talking dolls or other toys, the assemblage of the several parts entering into the construction of the bellows whereby air is expelled under pressure throu 'h the soundingreed is very greatly expedited. At the same time, however, it will be appreciated that my invention does not sacrific security and permanency of the connection between the parts to speed; 'Ihus reason of the fact that I have succeeded in reducing time, material and labor costs in the production of such devices, an article of this kind superior to those heretofore known in the art can be profitably manufactured and sold at less cost to the consuming public than the devices of the prior art.

I have herein illustrated and described several satisfactory and practical embodiments of my present invention. Nevertheless it will be understood that the essential features thereof might also be exemplified in other constructions and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form and arrangement of the several detail parts as may be fairly considered within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: 7

1. The method of connecting a flexible tubular bellows wall to ahead which consists in providing the head with a part yieldable under pressure, then arranging said head and said part within one end of said tubular wall and then compressing said yieldable part of the head upon the end edge of said wall to effect a permanent connection and air tight seal between said flexible wall and the head.

2. The method of connecting a flexible tubular bellows wall to a head which consists in providing a head with an annular flange yieldable under pressure, then arranging said head within one end of said tubular wall, and then subjecting said annular flange to the pressure of a tool to displace said flange from its normal position and force the same under a uniformly applied pressure upon the end edge of said tubular wall to confine the edge of said tubular wall between said flange and apart of the head and there- I by effect a permanent connection and air tight seal betweensaid flexible wall and the head.

3. The method of connecting a flexible tubular bellows wall to a head havingia part yieldable under pressure which consists in tubular wall beyond its normal diameter, and a then subjecting said yieldable part of the head to pressure and thereby causing said yieldable part of the head to permanently confine the end edge of the tubular flexible wall between said part and an opposed surface of the head.

i. The method of connecting a flexible tubular bellows wall to ahead which con- 'sists in forming the head of malleable mate rial and providing the same with an annular flange inwardly spaced from the periphery of said head, then drawing the tubular flexible wall over said head to position the same within one end of said tubular wall with the end edge thereof extending inwardly and against said annular flange, and then subjecting said annular flange to the pressure of a tool to thereby turn said flange outwardly upon the marginal portion of saidhead and fold the end edge of the tubular wall upon itself whereby said folded edge of the tubular wall is permanently confined between the marginal face of said head and said flange.

5. In combination, a tubular bellows wall of. flexible material, a gravity movable operating head for said bellows enclosed by one end of said tubular wall, andsaid head having an integral annular part exerting a uniform frictional confining pressure upon the end edge ofsaid tubular wall to effecta permanent air tight connection between said tubular wall and the head. I

6. In combination, a tubular flexible bellows wall, a head of slightly greater diameter than one end of said tubular wall, said head being engaged within said end of the tubular wall and distending said wall beyond its normal diameter, said head being provided with an annular non-expanding flange extending upon the end edge of the tubular wall and frictionally confining the same against a surface of said head to thereby effect a permanent air tight connection between said tubular wall and the head.

7. In combination, a flexible tubular bellows wall, a gravity movableoperating head for collapsing and distending said bellows wall, one end of the tubular wall surrounding said head, and said head having a part of malleable material adapted to be displaced under pressure and engaged upon the end edge of said tubular wall to permanently confine the latter between said part and a surface of said head and thereby effect an air tight connection between the tubular I bellows wall and said head.

8.111 combination, a tubular flexible bellows wall, a head for one end of the bellows formed of malleable material, and of greater diameter than said end of the tubular wall,

said end of the tubular wall surrounding said headand bein distended thereb and an integral annular flange on said head.

forced under pressure upon the end edge of saidtubular wall to frietionally and permanently confine said end edge of the wall between said flange and a surface of the head and thereby effect an air tight connectended thereby, said bellows head havingan integral annular flange spaced from the periphery of the head and forced outwardly under pressure over, and upon the end edge of said tubular wall whereby the latter is permanently confined between said outwardly turned flange and one side. face of the bellows head to thereby effect an'air tight connection between said tubular bellows wall and the head. 7 7

10. In a bellows, a tubular collapsible body wall, a weighty head for collapsing and distending said tubular bellows wall, said head having surface to be engaged by the end edge of said wall, and a non-resilient part carried by said head and adapted to be displaced under pressure upon said edge of the tubular bellows wall to frictionally clamp and permanently confine the same against said surface.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name hereto.

LEO J. ,GRUBMAN. 

